Statue of Junípero Serra, Wooden statue in Carmel-by-the-Sea, United States
This wooden sculpture depicts Father Junipero Serra, a Franciscan friar, carved from oak by artist Jo Mora and placed at a major street intersection. The figure holds architectural plans and wears traditional religious clothing typical of his monastic order.
The friar depicted founded nine missions across California between 1769 and 1784. One of these religious communities was established near Carmel, where this sculpture now stands.
The figure shows a man dressed in Franciscan robes while holding architectural plans in his hands. It represents the Spanish colonial presence that shaped this coastal town.
The sculpture stands at the corner of Serra Avenue and Camino Del Monte, easily reached on foot from downtown. The location is in a quiet residential area with plenty of space to view and photograph from different angles.
The oak wood was left uncoated, allowing it to weather naturally from coastal salt air and sun exposure. This aging process creates visible cracks and color changes that are part of the sculpture's intended design rather than damage.
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